Before What’s Going On, before Super Fly, there was Hot Buttered Soul—a record that rewrote the boundaries of soul music. Released in June 1969, Isaac Hayes’ second album broke all the rules with 4 songs including a 12-minute cover, a 19-minute monologue, and a full orchestra in tow. Backed by The Bar-Kays and armed with total creative freedom, Hayes sculpted sound, mood, and memory into something sweeping and unforgettable.
Whether you know the samples, the voice, or just the sunglasses, here are five facts that show why Hot Buttered Soul still grooves in permanent rotation.
1. Four songs, endless emotion.
The album features just four tracks, but each one unfolds like a short film. Hayes’ take on “Walk On By” stretches to twelve minutes, and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” goes nearly nineteen. With sweeping strings, live vocals, and unhurried storytelling, Hayes pushed soul into new territory.
2. Hayes called the shots—and changed the game.
After his first album underperformed, Isaac Hayes agreed to return only if he had complete creative control. Stax Records said yes, and Hayes delivered something visionary. His leadership shaped every detail, from the tracklist to the live band arrangements.
3. “Walk On By” became a sample goldmine.
Hayes’ psychedelic, 12-minute spin on “Walk On By” didn’t just reimagine a Bacharach classic—it laid the foundation for dozens of future tracks. Its ominous strings, slow-burn rhythm, and cinematic flair made it one of the most sampled soul cuts in history. Across decades and genres, artists have returned to it again and again, turning that groove into something entirely their own.
His version of “Walk On By” has been sampled by Compton’s Most Wanted in “Hood Took Me Under” (1992), The Notorious B.I.G. in “Warning” (1994), Faith Evans in “No Other Love” (1995), 2Pac in “Me Against the World” (1995), McGruff in “Harlem Kidz Get Biz” (1998), MF DOOM in “Dead Bent” (1999), Wu-Tang Clan in “I Can’t Go to Sleep” (2000), Hooverphonic in “2 Wicky” (1996), Hip Hop Pantsula in “Let Me Be” (2005), and Beyoncé in “6 Inch” (2016).
4. The album’s sound crossed cities and studios.
Tracked in Memphis and finished in Detroit, Hot Buttered Soul blended Southern soul with orchestral ambition. The Bar-Kays laid down the rhythm, while Johnny Allen arranged cinematic horns and strings. The result was velvet-smooth and thunderously bold all at once.
5. Henry Rollins can’t get enough of it.
Punk icon Henry Rollins has praised Hot Buttered Soul as one of his all-time favorite albums. He even interviewed Hayes in 1995 and printed it in his book Black Coffee Blues, Part 2. Soul meets punk respect—now that’s range.
Hot Buttered Soul plays like a statement of purpose—bold, lush, and deeply intentional. With just four tracks, Isaac Hayes redefined what soul music could hold, blending orchestral ambition with raw groove. Its influence continues to flow through samples, performances, and playlists around the world.
